and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.
Parallel translations
- KJV And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.
- BSB Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah.
- NKJV And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people.
- NASB As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them knew how to speak the language of Judah, but only the language of his own people.
- NLT Furthermore, half their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of some other people and could not speak the language of Judah at all.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The children of these marriages spoke half in foreign tongues and could not speak the language of Judah. It matters because losing their language signaled a deeper loss of covenant heritage and identity.
Overview
The children's inability to speak Hebrew showed how intermarriage was eroding their connection to God's law and people. Language carried the Scriptures and worship of Israel, so its loss endangered the faith of the next generation. This warns that compromise quietly reshapes children's identity, underscoring the call to pass on the knowledge of God faithfully.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Zeph 3:9For then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that they may all call on Yahweh’s name, to serve him shoulder to shoulder.
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Christ at the center
The rebuilt walls and renewed covenant community foreshadow the greater builder who gathers and secures a people for God, the one who declares 'I will build my church.'
How Nehemiah 13:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.